Explanation
Coined by Michel Foucault, governmentality refers to the rationalities, techniques, and procedures used by modern states to govern individuals and populations. Rather than relying solely on coercion, governmentality operates through institutions, norms, and knowledge systems (e.g., statistics, criminology, medicine) to shape behavior and self-conduct.
It shifts the focus from sovereign power to the conduct of conduct, revealing how individuals are made into self-regulating subjects. Governmentality plays a key role in understanding neoliberalism, risk management, and the criminalization of poverty in late modern societies.
Theoretical Reference
Governmentality is a central concept in Foucauldian theory, especially in the analysis of biopolitics, discipline, and state power. It has been widely adopted in critical criminology, urban studies, and political sociology.